Switch handle



SWI TCH HANDLE Filed May 14, 1924 I INVENTOR. HENR' 0. Elves TRo/w BY 1% Am Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED sra'rss PATENT orncs.

HENRY O. ENGSTROM, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICUT.

SWITCH HANDLE.

Application filed. May 14, 1224. Serial No. 713,276.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. ENGSTROM, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State. of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Handles, of which the following is a speci' fication.

My invention relates to electric switches,

1 ancbparticularly to rotary snap switches.

ent handle may be applied, maybe of any suitable character. To illustrate the invention, however, Thave shown a flush switch of standard type, having an insulating base 15- on which the switch mechanism is mounted and encased by the cover 16. Proj ecting through a hole in the top of the latter is the threaded end of the rotary switch spindle 17, from which laterally projects a fin 18, by means of which actuating engagement between the switch handle and the switch mechanism is established.

The handle comprises an insulating button 19, axially pierced at 20 to accommodate the projecting stemof the switch spindle.

- Bays 21 open from the spindle-way 20 to recows and engage; the fin 18. The hole 20 opens to a well 22 at the outer end of the button 19, and inasmuch as the well 22 is of greater diameter than the hole 20, an annular shoulder 23 is afforded at the bottom of the well against which abuts one end of a coil spring 24. j A marginal flange 25 at the head of a ferrule 26 engages the opposite end of the spring 24 and thus confines the 1 latter within the. well 22 between the flange 25 and the abutment 23. internally threaded to engage the threaded end of the spindle 17 and the lower end of the ferrule passes through the bottom of the well into the hole 20, where it is offset at opposite points into the bays 21. The offsets 27 engage the shoulders 28 afforded-by the upper ends of the bays, and thusretain the ferruleagains't escape, as well as against r0- tation with respect to the button 19.

Resting against the face of the boss 29, adjacent the cover 16, is a bearing washer 30 centrally apertured at 31 to accommodate the spindle 1 7, and having notches 32 formed therein, which register with the bays 21 in the button to permit the fin 18 of the spindle to pass through the washer into one or the other of said bays. Spring lugs 33 struck from the washer incidental to the formation of the notches 32, enter the bays 21 and engage the walls thereof to prevent accidental detachment of the washer.

The attachment of the handle is readily understood. The portion of thespindle 17 extending beyond the fin 18 is of suflicient length to engage the thread. at the inner end of the ferrule 26 when the offsets 27 bear against the shoulders '28. handle is turned down on the spindle the fin 18 tends to limit the extent of the threaded engagement between the ferrule and spindle. In order to secure a proper engagement, it is necessary during rotationof the buttonto hold it away from the cover 16, and thus clear the fin 18. When a sufficient engagement has been attained, however. and the fin 18 is in register with one of the bays 21, the button 19 is released, whereupon the spring 2 1 forces the buttonagainst the cover and at the same time establishes the engagement of the fin 18 in one or the other of the bays 21. The cover is thus held seated against the base 15, while an operative engagement. is established between thehandle and the spindle.

To remove the handle from the spindle it is necessary to draw the button outward against the effort of the spring 2%, until the inner end of the button clears the fin 18.

The handle may then be rotated in a direc- The ferrule 26 is As the tion to unscrew the ferrule from the spindle. As above stated the ferrule 26 is held at all times against rotation with respect to the button 19, by the offsets 27, which enter the bays 21. I

The construction is excedingly simple and economical. The molding of the handle is readily accomplished, while both the attachment of the handle to the spindle and the engagement of the spindle with the handle for rotation, are secure and eiiicient. The particular method of preventing rotation of the ferrule with respect tothebutton may be modified, for example by making the wellspindle and entering said way to establish.

drive connection between the handle and spindle, and at the outerend of the button. a well, of greater diameter than the spindle way and to, the bottom of which the latter opens, a spindle-engaging screw ferrule secured against rotation in said well but displaceable toward the spindle, and a spring interposed between said ferrule and the bottom. of the well and opposing the rectilinear displacement of the ferrule with'respect to the button.

2. A rotary snapz switch, handle comprismg sin-insulating button pierced to afford a way for the threaded end .of the rotary switch spindle, a lateral bay opening to the spindle way, means associated with the spindle and entering said way to establish drive connection between the handle and spindle, and. at the outer end of the button a well of. greater diameter than the spindle way and to the bottom ofwhich the latter opens, aspindle-engaging screw. ferrule arranged in said well and having at its outer end a laterally projecting. flange, and at its inner end an offset below the bottom of the well tov retain the ferrule against escape, and a spring interposed between the bottom of. the well and the flange at: the outer end of the ferrule and opposing the rectilinear displacement of the ferrule with respect to the button.

3. A rotary snap switch handle comprising an insulating button pierced to afford a way for the threaded end of the rotary switch spindle, a lateral bay opening to the spindle way, means associated with the spin? dle and entering said way to establish drive A pin piercing the connection between the handle and spindle, and at the outer end of the button a well of greater diameter than the spindle way and to the bottom of which the latter opens,

a spindle-engaging screw ferrule arranged insaid well and having at its outer end a laterally projecting flange, and at its inner end an offset entering said lateral bay opening to the spindle way and serving to hold said ferrule against escape and; also aga rotation with respect to the button, together with a spring interposed between the bottom of the well and the flange at the outer end of the ferrule an'd'opposing the rectilinear displacement of the ferrule with respect to the button.

&. In'arotary snap switch, a rotary spindle, a spindle driving element rigid there with and extending laterally therefrom,in. combination with'a switch handle pierced to afford a spindleway, a shoulder formed in said way, ferrule arranged in said Wayand engaging said handle against rotation with respect thereto, but free for longitudinal: displacement, said ferrule and spindle being adapted for screw connection, a spring interposed between the ferrule and shouldei" to oppose longitudinal displacement of the ferrule in the handle, said handle being re cessed laterally of the spindleway to receive the spindle driving element on longitudinal displacement of the handle with respect to the spindle after screw connection between thespindle and ferrule has beenfe'stablished;

5. In a'rotary snap switch, a rotary spindle, a spindle driving element rigid therewith and extending laterally therefrom, in. combination with a switch handle pierced to afford a spindleway, a shoulder formed in said way, a ferrule arranged in said way 195 and engaging said handle against rotation with respect thereto, but free for longitudinal displacement, said ferrule and spindle being adapted for screw connection, a spring interposed" between theferrule andshoulder to oppose longitudinaldisplacement of the ferrule in the handle, said handle being recessed laterally of the spindleway to. receive the spind-led'riving element on longitudinal displacement of the handle with respect to the spind'ie after a screw connection between the spindle and ferrule hasbeen established, and-a bearing washer at the mouth of the spindleway, saidf washer being pierced" in register with said way and the lateral recess in the handle to receive the spindle-driving element.

6. In a rotary snap switch,;a switch base, a cover overlying the same, a switch spindle projecting from the base through the cover, in combination with a handle pierced to receive the spindle, a floating fer-rule supported within the way in the handleand held; against rotation with respect to the handle, a spring'opposing displacement-- of said floating ferrule toward the switch cover, a screw'connection between said ferrule and spindle for securing the handle upon the spindle, together with an independent drive connection comprising means rigid With and laterally projecting from the spindle, and a recess in the handle adapted to receive said driving member upon the longitudinal displacement of the handle after the screw connection between the spin- 10 dle and ferrule hasbeen established.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY O. ENGSTROM. 

